Uncoupling device for car couplers



Aug. 10 192s. 1,595,297

B0612 far.-

Gaff]; 6&7 in 5 4 flzzorn Patented Aug. 1 0, 1926.

UNITED STATES GARTH G. GILPIN, OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOI COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

Original applicationfiled July 12, 1923, Se

This particula 1,595,297 PATENT OFFICE.

S, ASSIGNOR IO UNION METAL PRODUCTS A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

UNCOUPLING DEVICE FOR CAR OOUPLERS.

r invention relates towhat is generally known in the art as the push down or vertical plane type of uncoupling device and comprises two levers operatively 5 connected having their adjacent ends pivotally mounted on the same fulcrum.

Such

devices are operated either by hand or foot.

(The particular tion resldes 1n levers are pivoted upon advantage of this constructhe manner in which the the fulcrum.) In

levers of this general type the connection between the levers must allow the pin lifting lever to move freely laterally to accommodate the longitudinal movement of the coupler in draft an d in buffing.

The manner of operatively mounting the pin lifting lever upon the operating lever in accordance with this invention permits it to move or swing the movements laterally to accommodate of the coupler in buff and draft and the manner of mounting the operating lever upon stricts its movin horizontal plane, otal movement of the not be transmitted to The manner of lever upon the from tipping and binding,

the fulcrum prevents or reg or swinging laterally in a so that the lateral or pivpin lifting lever canthe operating lever. mounting the pin lifting operating lever prevents it thereby causing friction in the device.

The impact of coupling causes sudden longitudinal movement of the coupler, which movement is transmitted to the adjacent end of the pin lifting lever and would be transmitted to the operating lever unless that lever is prevented from moving laterally.

Switchmen frequently ride a moving car while coupling it and at the same time signal the engineer. In such an act he usually holds on the grab iron with his left hand and signals the engineer with his right hand while his left foot is on on the operating lever.

right foot is the sill step and his While in such a posit-ion a sudden movement of the operating lever has a tendency to, and

frequently does,

One of the objects,

a device which i operate.

throw him from the car. therefore, is to provide s safe for the switchman to The return bend and the extended portion therefrom provides two bearings which are provided in parts of the same metallic bar,

therefore, act in mg area of the o unison to increase the bearperating lever upon the fulcasting 5 and crum, prevent or restrict it from moving or swlnging laterally and prevent it from tipping from a vertical plane.

rial No. 651,161. Divided and this application filed January 6,

Serial No. 79,555.

Good practice requires that the handle end L of the operating lever be positioned slightly in front of the vertical plane of the face of the end sill and below the push pole pocket.

This is agenerally recognized location of this handle, therefore, switchmen can reach it quickly even in the darkness. It is advantageous, therefore, to not permit the lever to move laterally, and especially advantageous not to allow, the sudden or jerky movement of the pin lifting lever to be transmitted to the operating lever.

Means are provided to restrict the movement of the lever in a vertical plane which is a requirement of the Interstate Commerce Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the fol I crurn.

Fig. 3 shows the relation of the fulcrum, member and levers.

Fig. 4: is an elevation of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the fulcrum end of the operating lever.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of Fig. 5.

Figs. 7 and 8 are views of the separate 'member introduced between the operating lever and the fulcrum.

The usual parts of the car are shown, such as the end sill 1; the push pole pocket 2; the

coupler 3; the lock lifter. I; the striking the carry iron 6.

The operating lever 30 is mounted on fulcrum 8 and the pin lifting lever 37 is mounted on the operating lever 30. This pin lifting lever is operatively connected to the lock lifter 4 of the coupler 3. The operating lever 30 is extended toward the side of 34: respectively throuo'i the car to any convenient location so that it can be operated by hand or foot. A downward pressure on the end 10 of the operating lever 30 raises the lock lifter l of the coupler. The lock is thus raised from behind the tail of the knuckle which permits the knuckle to swing outwardly and uncouple "the cars; in fact, the raising of the loci; au-. tomatically throws the knuckle. This, however, is within the head of the coupler and has nothing to do with this invention,

The operating lever is provided with a rebent portion 31 and extended to form portion 32, The main part 30 and the portion is provided with aperture;- 33 and and bearing block 3;; is hearing block 35 with the ed thereon are then mounted upon jou-r 1-, 15 of the fulcrum 8. ii non-rotatrve connection is provided between the o lever 30 and the connecting block l. peculiar contour of the apertures 38 and 35 which coincide with the exterior perime ter of connecting block The connecting block 35 has projections 36 which engage stops 19 and 20 of fulcrum 8 to limit its rotation in a vertical plane which automatically limits the rotation of levers 30 and 3 7. The horizontal distance between the connectii block 2'5 and th bent portion 31 is only slightly greater t: u portion 21 of the pin lifting lever which prevents the pin lifting lever from tippii'ig and wabbling.

The parts are held in operative relation by bolt 38 with its washer 39 and nut 40, This is a division of my co-pendin" app cation Serial No. 651,151, filed July 19,, 1

I claim: 1. An uncouplin 1, device for car couplers comprising an operating lever provided with an aperture, said lever rebent to form a portion provided with an aperture, HSFFL ber passing through said apertures having a non-rotative connection therewith, a fulcrum. passing through said member having a rotative connection therewith, and a pin lifting lever operatively mounted on said op erating lever.

2, An uncouplin device car couplers comprising an operating lever provided with an aperture, said lever rebent to form a portion provided with an aperture, a meming a rotative connection therewith, and a pin lifting lever operatively mounted on said operating lever, said member and fulcrum each provided with means which co-act to restrict the movement of the operating lever in a vertical plane.

3. An uncoupling device for car couplers comprising an operating lever provided with an aperture, said lever rebent' to form a portion provided with an aperture, a member passing through said .pertures n ving a non-rotative connection therewith, a fulcrum passing through said member having a rotative connection therewith, and a pin lifting lever operatively mounted on said operating lever, said member and fulcrum each provided with means which co-act to restrict the movement of the operating lever in a vertical plane both upwardly and clownwardly.

at. An uncoupling device for car couplers comprising an operating lever provided with an aperture, said lever rebent to form a portion provided with an aperture, a member passing through said apertures having a non-rotative connection with one of said apertures, a fulcrum passing through said member having a rotative connection therewith, and a pin lifting lever operatively mounted on said operating lever.

5. An uncoupling device for car couplers comprising a fulcrum, a member rotatively mounted upon said fulcrum, an operating lever non-rotatively mounted on said memher, said lever having a return bend at its fulcrum end extended to provide a double bearing on said member so as to restrict the lateral swing of said lever, and a pin lift ing lever mounted on said bend.

6. An uncoupling device for car couplers comprising a fulcrum, a member rotatively mountedupon saidfulcrum, an operating lever non-rotatively mounted on said memher, said lever having a return bend at its fulcrum end extended to provide a double bearing on. said member so as to restrict the lUU lateral swing. of said lever, and a pin lift- GARTH e. einrnv. 

